Health Calendar

Have any health notes to submit to the paper? New class? New or ongoing support group? Blood drive? Fax a brief write-up to 703-917-0991 or e-mail maweber@connectionnewspapers.com

The Parkinson's Foundation offers weekly support groups (previously located at the Providence Recreation Center) for patients and caregivers. They meet every Tuesday at 10 and 11 a.m., at the Lewinsville Senior Center, 1609 Great Falls St., McLean. Call 703-891-0821 if interested in joining or for more information.

La Leche League of Vienna will hold its next meeting on Nov. 5, at 10 a.m. Pregnant and nursing women and their children are welcome to attend. The meeting will take place at St. Mark’s Church. Free. For more information, call a La Leche League Leader at 703-281-5801 or 703-716-4872 or abcgray@hotmail.com.

Balancing hormones naturally. On Wednesday, Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m., gain an understanding of symptoms that occur during PMS and menopause and their solutions using diet, nutrition, chiropractic, allergy elimination, exercise and stress reduction. Free. To register, call New Life Wellness Center, Vienna, at 703-242-7474 or www.newlifewellness.com.

Understanding fibromyalgia. On Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m., learn about non-drug solutions to chronic muscular pain, fatigue and depression and their effect on the body. Free. The meeting will take place at Reston Community Center, 703-476-4500, and will be presented by New Life Wellness Center of Vienna. Visit www.newlifewellness.com.

The Parkinson’s Disease Carepartners Support Group meets at 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. The next meeting is Nov. 19 at Dolley Madison Library lower level meeting room, 1244 Oak Ridge Ave., McLean. No charge; caregivers and family members welcome. Call for more information, 703-891-0821.

Teens' Educational Support Program. A new eight-week program for youths 13-18 who have a family member who is a cancer patient, is forming for Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Through discussion and activities, participants can express themselves and understand the changes that come when someone in the family has cancer. At the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Suite 203, Room B. Call 703-208-5623 for upcoming schedule.

Good Grief for Teens. For those 13-18, group activities and art therapy will help teenagers share thoughts and feelings about loss and help with the grief process. On Mondays, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Call for upcoming group schedule. At the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Suite 203, Room B. Call 703-698-2841 or visit www.lifewithcancer.org to register.

TLC: Teens Living with Cancer. Monthly social activities for 13- to 18-year-olds who have cancer give them a chance to meet others with cancer, share a little, have fun. Call 703-208-5623 for details. At the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St. Call 703-698-2841 or visit www.lifewithcancer.org.

*General bereavement support group for anyone grieving the death of a loved one. Meets the first and third Wednesday of each month, 7:30-9 p.m.

*Widow/widower bereavement support group for anyone grieving the death of a spouse. One group meets the first and third Thursday of each month, 2-3:30 p.m., the other on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, 7:30-9 p.m.

*Suicide survivors bereavement support group for anyone grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide meets the first Tuesday of each month, 7:30-9 p.m.

*Early Mother Loss Bereavement Support Group for anyone who lost their mother before the age of 21 meets the third Tuesday each month, 7:30-9 p.m.

Call 703-941-7000 or visit www.havenofnova.org for more information.

Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Groups are facilitated by trained group leaders, ongoing, free and open to the community. Support groups allow families to meet other caregivers, to share experiences and caregiving tips while developing coping skills. Caregivers and family members are invited to visit.

In Oakton, the group meets the third Monday of the month from 7:30 p.m. at Sunrise Senior Living (10322 Blake Lane). Call Betty Moore, group leader, at 703 255-2050 prior to attending for the first time. For a complete listing of Alzheimer’s Association support groups meeting throughout the National Capital Area, call toll-free 1-866-259-0042 or visit www.alz-nca.org. Support groups are subject to change. Contact the support group leader prior to attending for the first time to verify date, time and location.

The Alzheimer's Association of the National Capital Area is starting a new caregiver support group which will meet on the second Monday of each month at 1 p.m. at The Sylvestery, 1728 Kirby Road in McLean. The Sylvestery is Vinson Hall Retirement Community's new assisted living residence for the care of people with memory impairments. Barbara Adams, M.S.W., will be the support group leader .

CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Hyperactivity Disorder) of Northern Virginia. A support group meets on the second Tuesday of each month, 7:15 p.m., at Dolley Madison Library, 1244 Oak Ridge Ave., McLean. Contact Annette Spector, aspector@der-online.com, with questions. The support group schedule is also posted online at www.novachadd.org. For more information about these and other upcoming meetings, call 703-641-5451 or e-mail nova_chadd@hotmail.com.

The Parkinson's Disease Young Onset Support Group will meet on the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Dolley Madison Library lower level meeting room at 1244 Oak Ridge Avenue in McLean. There is no charge. Patients, caregivers and family members are welcome. Call Hilary Blue at 703-821-1393 for more information.

The Northern Virginia Epilepsy Group meets every Wednesday, 7-8 p.m., at the Falls Church High School Career Center, Room 100, 7521 Jaguar Trail.

Life with Cancer Caregivers Meeting. Every Wednesday, 5:30-7 p.m. Meetings for family members to discuss and explore topics of concern including coping strategies, support, information related to cancer and more. Use Blue parking garage. Meetings held at Inova Fairfax Woman's Center, radiation oncology conference room at 3300 Gallows Road in Falls Church. 703-698-2841 for registration and information.

Social Skills/Therapy Groups. In small, age-appropriate groups, children who have difficulty in social situations learn and practice appropriate behavior, such as initiating and maintaining conversation, listening, sharing, problem-solving, self-control, handling teasing, dealing with emotions, and making friends $55-$65 per session. (May be insurance-reimbursable.) For registration, call the Jewish Social Service Agency at 703-204-9100.

HAVEN of Northern Virginia, a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization, needs volunteers to provide emotional support to the bereaved, the seriously ill, the dying and their family and friends. Volunteers must be available during weekdays and must be able to commit to a minimum of 2 1/2 hours a week for phone duty for at least one year. Training is provided and will be offered in September. For additional details and information, call 703-941-7000. Visit www.havenofnova.org.

The Alzheimer's Family Day Center is looking for volunteers. If interested, contact Joan at 703-532-8899 or afdc@alzheimersfdc.org.

The American Red Cross is offering Infant and Child CPR at Dunn Loring United Methodist Church, 2501 Gallows Road, from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. The fee is $40. To enroll, call 703-964-0004 or visit www.redcrossnca.org.

Become a Foster or Adoptive Parent Today. A chance to make a difference in a child’s life. Call Fairfax County’s Foster Care and Adoption Program at 703-324-7639.

Amputee Support Group of Northern Virginia. A support group for amputees, their families and friends. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month, 7:30-9 p.m., at Inova Fairfax Hospital, Physician's Conference Center, Room 1D, first floor, 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church. There is no cost to participants, and parking is provided free in the garage for cars displaying handicapped placards or license plates. Contact Irvin Axelrod at 703-222-7120 or e-mail asgnva@earthlink.net for more information.

Depression and Manic Depression Support Group. The Sterling/Reston Chapter of DRADA, meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month, 7-9 p.m. For location, contact Traci at 703-433-1448 or Jan at 703-669-5177. DRADA stands for Depressive and Related Affective Disorders Association, a nonprofit, self-help group sponsored by Johns Hopkins, which has been in existence for over 20 years.

Virginia Health Information (VHI). VHI, a nonprofit, independent organization, has published information on its Web site, www.vhi.org, reporting on the in-patient cardiac care provided at all licensed hospitals in Virginia. The information compares their performance and mortality outcomes. VHI’s study is based on over 100,000 cardiac patient discharges submitted by Virginia hospitals for the year 2000.

Shoplifters Anonymous. Group offers a new 12-step meeting program for those who wish to stop compulsive shoplifting. The group meets every Thursday, 7-8 p.m., at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road. Call Sue at 703-759-0396 or Carol at 703-764-0347 to confirm the meeting date.